The Wilmingtonian., 1887-10-29
can't see much hope in either case"

number, had been lowered at the same time
at other points; and general scramble COM
menced to see who should be first to get in
them. Captain Murray now turned to
Adelaide Bronson and said:.. .."Miss Adelaide
this is probably our last hour on earth.
love you as never loved any other before.
You were placed under my charge to watch
over and protect, but now | must place you
under the care of some one else in one of
the boats, for must be the last to leave my
vessel, and it may go down before 1 can
leave it, Come, and as we 60 I'll say fare
we'll"
"Nay, Captain Murray, would stay with
you. love you, I warrant, as much as you
do me, and when you die wish to die Also"
The Captain clasped her in his arms, and
amid the bowling of the storm, and the
lurching of the vessel, imprinted upon her
lips kiss of pure and holy love. The storm
had low lulled considerably, yet the sta was
violently rough. The last Of the passengers
and seamen were scramblng into the boats
Pete, the Captains cook, was handing down
into the yawl a little girl, the daughter Of
the mate, who stood just behind anxiously
looking on, when suddenly the vessel gave
great forward luroh.
"Cut loose, cried those in the boat "she's
going under" It was Immediately done
Pete and the mate sprang over into the yawl
at the risk of manning some one, and the
boats all shot away from the doomed vessel,
on whose deck alone was left Captain MUIR
ray and Adelaide clasped in each nther's
arms, and thus they went down, down, down
with their ill-starred vessel to its watery
grave. 10 Captain Murray, who held Adel-
aide clasped tightly in his arms, it seemed
as if they would never begin to rise again.
All at once he felt something surge up be-
meath his feet, bearing them upward. He
never lost consciousness, but great roaring
was in his ears, and it seemed as if he would
suffocate for want Of air. Let anyone hold
his breath minute by the watch ii he can,
and he will have some idea of his feelings as
We went up, up to the surface. 1t was reach
ed at last. The Captain caught one gasp of
air, and before he could catch another, felt
himself and Adelaide going, down, down,
again; but in few seconds they returned to
the surface. The stout planking of one of
the decks had broken loose from the sunken
vessel and had arisen Immediately beneath
them, and its buoyancy doubtless saved
them froIn going to a much greater depth
and from perishing. Tne part of the deck
which had broken loose was some eight or
ten feet in width and double that in length.
The planking had been stoutly braced to-
gether, so that there was but little danger
of its going to pieces Immediately. Near
the outer edge of this planking, securely
fastened to it, were some iron rings, which
had been thus placed that ropes might be
drawn through and secured.
Provdentially as they came to the sur
face the second time, Captain Murray was
directly over one of these rings. The Cap
tain instantly grasped the ring with his left
hand, while he supported the now uncon-
scious Adelaide with his right He caught
them arose to the top of huge wave. The
life giving air renewed his almost exhausted
strength, and he instantly arose erect, and
lifting Adelaide as high as he could reach
above his head, he ran his foot through the
ring, so that he might not be swept back
ward and off in to the water as they went
down into the trough of the billow. AS
they went downward, the planking shot
into, and was for short time SO deeply
submerged in the next wave that the waite
swept up even into the Captains face, aud
had il not been for his foot in the ring, and
the other foot hard braced behind him, he
would have been instantly swept away; as
it was, he with difficulty held Adelaide
clear Of the water above him, and maintain
ed bis balance. The ring was near the tor
ward end of the planking, and the weight
of the Captain and Adelaide had submerged
their frail support much more than it would
otherwise have been. The Captain felt that
he could not maintain his position long. Al
they rose to the top Of the next wave he
looked back and saw, as he expected, anoth-
er ring at the back end of the plauking.
He Immediately rushed toward it, bea ring
Adelaide with him. His experience in walk
ing upon the deck of his vessel when it was
rolling and lurching so that landsman
would have fallen headlong, now enabled
him to reach the other ring in safety, just
as they went sweeping down into the trough
Of the next billow. The weight, now so
suddenly transferred to the back end, So
raised the front of the plauking, that when
it dived into the next wave the water barely
swept around the gallant Captains ankles.
He now felt much more secure and turned
his attention to Adelaide, who was vomit-
ing sea-water and gasping for breath. In a
short time she had fully recovered, and the